Can someone with more knowledge on Derrick Williams fill me in on his abilities, potential, history, and usage?

Strong inside scorer. Extremely athletic. Has capable range. Strong inside post scorer as well. Solid defender. Tweener. Very good potential, on this team, would be better suited playing the 3, allowing him to use his size and strength, and even though inconsistent outside shooting, he can be a threat. Average ball-handling and passing ability, and is solid without the ball. If we could, I wouldn't mind trying to send out Linas, Andrea and Jose to acquire possibly Williams, Ridnour while Gasol and Blake head over to Minny. (Correct me if it doesn't work).

Strong inside scorer. Extremely athletic. Has capable range. Strong inside post scorer as well. Solid defender. Tweener. Very good potential, on this team, would be better suited playing the 3, allowing him to use his size and strength, and even though inconsistent outside shooting, he can be a threat. Average ball-handling and passing ability, and is solid without the ball. If we could, I wouldn't mind trying to send out Linas, Andrea and Jose to acquire possibly Williams, Ridnour while Gasol and Blake head over to Minny. (Correct me if it doesn't work).

Strong inside scorer. Extremely athletic. Has capable range. Strong inside post scorer as well. Solid defender. Tweener. Very good potential, on this team, would be better suited playing the 3, allowing him to use his size and strength, and even though inconsistent outside shooting, he can be a threat. Average ball-handling and passing ability, and is solid without the ball. If we could, I wouldn't mind trying to send out Linas, Andrea and Jose to acquire possibly Williams, Ridnour while Gasol and Blake head over to Minny. (Correct me if it doesn't work).

What are some deficiencies? Why isnt he being utilized by Minny?

Do we need a strong rebounding post SF who lacks a perimeter game when we have DD doing the same thing at SG?
Are there expectations of an improved 3pt shot for DW?

I really want to see a trade that includes Bargs out and Marcus Fizer (whoops, I mean D. Williams) in. From watching him play this season I would say his issues are general boneheadedness and a lack of awareness of how to get his game off. To be honest, reminds me a fair bit of Derozan up until this year - good, skilled, but not a perfect NBA game and various things like mediocre handle holding him back.

I do feel like he would greatly benefit from consistent playing time and the ability to play through some mistakes and learn what works for him. He is the perfect 'buy low' type of player for a young rebuilding team like ours (?). Of all the possible returns on Bargs, I like Williams the most. Knowing that Minni still wants Gasol...there has to be some way to make this happen...

He has never been wanted in Minnesota. He was taken because he was the #2 consensus pick. Adelman has no respect for his game.

He's had some big games when given opportunities and minutes. A tough situation for him to be because he has no consistency. One night 30 minutes, the next 3 games benched, 11 minutes, etc. etc. He is still just 21. He has lost 7-8 pounds last summer and had some sort of nasal surgery to correct his breathing.

Raptors should be doing everything possible to get in on any Pau trade that has #tradeBargnani ending up in LA but no Gasol here.

We've done it BC's way - and the way I advocated for a long time. Enough of that. He was wrong. I was wrong.

#tradeBargnani. Trade or let Jose expire. Try to dump one of Kleiza or Amir in the process of trading Bargnani. Be prepared to use the amnesty for the other player.

Do everything possible to get Williams and Pekovic from Minnesota. Pekovic could be used long term or he could be a trade chip again before the trade deadline or a sign and trade in the off season where Raps would have right to match any contract offer. Ideally flip Pekovic for a 2014 first round pick - unprotected (tough sell, I know and much easier said than done). Hum and ha over it and get a 1st round pick from Minny too - preferably 2014 pick. If you have to take Ridnour, perfect relatively cheap backup PG solved for next season.

Let Casey get back to coaching his strengths as he did last season - remember how fans were ecstatic with tough, grind it out ball despite no wins? Get rid of the 'losers' (and I say losers because look at the records for the last 5 seasons, they are not contributing to winning). Return to being on the verge of a top 10 defensive team. Work towards that. Make a real 'culture change' and not just throw around a buzz word. The fan base will follow and applaud a team that is actually working towards something instead of following a franchise that is consistently trying to frantically get out of quicksand but still sinking.

All this talk of veterans is rubbish. Get talent - and if you really want veterans on the squad to show professionalism and work ethic, there are always plenty each year looking for a minimum contract.

Finish the year with one goal in mind: being the best defensive team in the league from this point forward.... there is a long road ahead to work on everything else.

From here there are 2 choices:

1) Roll with the youth movement in 2013-14. Do a re-do of 2011-12 and hope to finish better than 8th in the lottery. Hope and pray like the be-jeezus the lottery gods smile for once on Toronto with Wiggins being there. Keep acquiring young talent and picks.

2) Attack this summer in free agency with nearly $20M in cap space for 2 solid veterans (I nominate Millsap and Wright - no, not Julian or Antoine). Realize the most likely chance of winning is to develop a team in the mold of Detroit in 2000's run or current team like Denver. There is likely not going to be a superstar going this route.

The rumor I've heard/read is that Williams is the ceterpiece of any Minny deal for Gasol. I'd love to see a 3 way trade like this, to see Williams end up in Toronto. I was really high on him in his draft, especially if he can play SF:

LAL: Bargnani, Calderon, Kleiza

MIN: Gasol, 2014 2nd round pick (Sacramento's pick, from Toronto)

TOR: Pekovic, Williams, Shved, Cunningham, Blake

Toronto could flip Cunningham for a 2nd round pick (at least) and trade/cut either Blake or Lucas.

Lakers
- get a good young spread-4 to replace Gasol, at half the cost
- get a Nash clone to back him up and be his insurance at PG
- a backup forward who can also spread the floor

Minny
- Gasol creates a huge front court with Love, still have Rubio, Ridnour and Barrea at PG

Toronto
- 3 good young players to add to their core (Pekovic, Williams, Shved)
- Pekovic would be a good compliment for Valanciunas, as JV develops (also makes Gray an expendable asset)
- Williams could compete for SF spot, or provide depth at PF
- Shved would become a good long-term backup for Lowry
- Cunningham & Blake are just included to match salaries, ideally to be flipped for draft pick(s)

* it works in the ESPN Trade Machine, but you have to use Ridnour & Rubio in place of Williams & Shved (both sets of players are $7.7M in salary - Shved can't be traded until Dec.15)

I think a trade involving Bargnani going out for Williams would even be okay with BC because Williams was taken 2nd overall and could still end up being welll worth that second overall pick. Williams may be inconsistent with his three point shot but he is shooting 37.9 percent from three which to me at least sounds like a great combination with Derozan. Rebounding would have a benefit to the team as well since he`s been grabbing over 5 rebounds in 20 minutes. Add in the factor that he`s still very young and has plenty of room to improve sounds to me like he could be a solid three for the team. the stats came from http://www.nba.com/playerfile/derrick_williams/

Last edited by Jon_Wade; Fri Dec 7th, 2012 at 04:44 PM.

Whoever told you skies the limit is looking dumb because I'm 22 and i'm moonwalking on the sun.